A fridge water filter can remove contaminants like chlorine, lead, and pharmaceuticals from drinking water and ice. But it’s important to note that not all refrigerator filters are the same.

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Counterfeit refrigerator water filters may not meet NSF and manufacturer standards and can cause damage not covered by your warranty. To help ensure you’re using a genuine filter, look for these signs:

Improved Taste

Fridge water and ice filters remove contaminants that cause bad taste or odors so you can enjoy fresh-tasting, clean drinking water. These filters are easy to use and install. Compared to having to buy and refill bottled water or using a Brita-type filter, it’s much simpler and more cost-effective.

Activated carbon refrigerator water filters work to remove chlorine, foul odor, and heavy metals. Depending on your chosen filter, they may remove other dissolved chemicals, including herbicides, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. This water filter should fit.

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Check for the correct symbols and the NSF certification mark to get a genuine refrigerator water filter. The NSF certification process involves on-site inspections, routine retesting, and compliance with manufacturer standards. You can also feel the filter and see how heavy it is; counterfeits are often lighter than genuine filters. For health-related impurities, look for a filter certified to NSF Standard 42. This can reduce aesthetic contaminants, such as chlorine, but does not reduce lead.

Reduced Odor

Water filters remove unpleasant taste and odors from tap water. They also reduce harmful contaminants, including bacteria and chemicals that may be added to municipal water supplies.

Over time, carbon reaches maximum capacity, and it stops filtering well. When this happens, it becomes a Petri plate for bacteria that can move into your refrigerator and contaminate your drinking water.

Changing your refrigerator water filter regularly protects you and your family from these dangerous contaminants. Use a filter certified for your refrigerator by a recognized standards organization such as NSF for the best results. Look for an NSF label on your new water filter to determine what impurities and contaminants it is independently certified to reduce. NSF Standard 42 filters reduce aesthetic impurities like chlorine, while NSF Standard 53 filters reduce health-effect pollutants like asbestos and lead.

Reduced Chemicals

Most refrigerator filters use activated carbon to remove impurities. This process works by letting the impurities stick to the carbon as the water passes through it. The carbon is honeycombed with nooks and crannies, which makes it an effective impurity-catching tool.

However, the filter can only capture a certain number of contaminants and will clog when those impurities become too numerous. When the filter clogs, more impurities will pass through and end up in your glass of iced tea or sips of water.

This is why it’s important only to buy genuine water filters. The manufacturer tests these filters and provides the best fit for your fridge. They also reduce at least 73 contaminants, including chemicals and metals, and tasteless and odorless lead from water and ice. Look for a filter certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) that meets specific chlorine, taste, and organic chemical reduction claims.

Reduced Lead

Genuine refrigerator water filters are NSF-certified to reduce lead and other contaminants in ice and water. They are easy to install, and they are designed to last for up to six months.

Counterfeit water filters pose a serious threat to consumer health and safety. According to a study by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), counterfeit refrigerator water filters often do not remove lead from water and sometimes even introduce harmful chemicals into clean drinking water.

AHAM also found that many refrigerator water filters need to be correctly labeled, making it hard for consumers to determine if they are genuine or fake. Consumer Reports recommends purchasing only refrigerator filters certified by NSF or another independent testing organization.

Conclusion:

Using genuine water filters in your refrigerator offers numerous benefits, including improved water quality, reduction of contaminants, health advantages, convenience, cost-effectiveness, and positive environmental impact. By investing in a genuine water filter, you can ensure that you and your family have access to clean, filtered, and great-tasting water directly from your refrigerator. Prioritizing the use of genuine water filters promotes a healthier lifestyle, reduces reliance on single-use plastics, and contributes to a sustainable future.